Wow! I knew St. Louis was a little warmer than Kansas City, but had no idea it was by so much! Nothing in my hoop house shows any signs of waking up except for buds just beginning to swell on my ume! These trees bloom in January in other places, and I am convincing myself that I see at least one flower bud. We'll see....

Remember my trees are wintered in an unheated pool cabana under lights. This week we have had several days at 70+. My son and I have been moving the trees out in the morning so that they can adjust to natural light again. The are getting morning sun till about 2:00. If the temp is to drop below 40 they are then moved back into the cabana till morning when we move them out again. Forecast for the next 10 days looks great (minus the rain) but temps are up.

JRob,That's great! Mine have to stay in the hoop house until I can be sure temps are safe, since on some days I am gone 14 hours. However, my privet is now pushing buds, and my ume buds are swelling (I know, it seems very late).